R 261700Z JUN 09
SUBJ: TAKE A STANCE: DONT DRINK AND DRIVE
1. WE ARE GUARDIANS. ALL MEMBERS OF TEAM COAST GUARD (CG) ARE TO
TAKE A PROACTIVE STANCE AGAINST DRINKING AND DRIVING.
2. IN 2008, A TOTAL OF 424 CG PERSONNEL WERE ARRESTED - FIFTY
PERCENT (212) OF THESE ARRESTS WERE FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG OFFENSES.
OF THESE 212 OFFENSES, 182 WERE FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
(DUI). THAT MAKES DUI THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ARREST IN THE CG. DUI
IS ALSO THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR A MEMBER TO RECEIVE AN ALCOHOL
INCIDENT AND TO BE INVOLUNTARILY DISCHARGED FROM THE CG.
3. MIXING ALCOHOL USE AND VEHICLE OPERATION IS A DEADLY
COMBINATION. SINCE 2007, IN AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH 1 DEATH IS TOO
MANY, 10 OF OUR SHIPMATES HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO DUI. OFTEN IT IS
THE INNOCENT DRIVER, PASSENGER, PEDESTRIAN OR CYCLIST THAT PAYS THE
PRICE FOR SOMEONE ELSES IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR. THESE TRAGIC EVENTS
CAN AND MUST BE PREVENTED. NO CG MEMBER WOULD RISK THEIR LIFE OR
THE LIVES OF OTHERS BY TAKING THE HELM OF A BOAT OR CLIMBING INTO
THE COCKPIT OF AN AIRCRAFT TO COMPLETE A MISSION AFTER CONSUMING
ALCOHOL. USE COMMON SENSE. NEVER GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE
WHEN IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL OR RIDE WITH SOMEONE DRIVING UNDER THE
INFLUENCE.
4. PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION ARE KEY TO CHANGING BEHAVIORS.
COMMANDS SHALL ENSURE THAT MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF CG ALCOHOL POLICY
BY PROVIDING ANNUAL ALCOHOL AWARENESS TRAINING (THROUGH GMT OR
S.A.F.E. TRAINING). COMMANDS SHALL MONITOR UNIT MEMBERS WHO HAVE
RECEIVED AN ALCOHOL SITUATION OR ALCOHOL INCIDENT BY SUPPORTING
COMPLETION OF TREATMENT PLAN REQUIREMENTS AND ESTABLISHING A
COMMAND CLIMATE THAT DOES NOT TOLERATE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
OF ALCOHOL OR ALCOHOL ABUSE.
5. COMMANDS SHOULD ALSO ESTABLISH A UNIT PLAN THAT DOES NOT
TOLERATE DRINKING AND DRIVING AND SUPPORTS A WAY FOR MEMBERS WHO
IMBIBE ALCOHOL TO GET HOME SAFELY. PLANS MAY INCLUDE IDEAS SUCH AS
ESTABLISHING A VOLUNTEER GROUP OF DESIGNATED DRIVERS, LISTS OF
LOCAL RESOURCES FOR RIDES HOME OR AN EMERGENCY TAXI FUND WHICH THE
MEMBER WOULD REIMBURSE.
6. TO EACH AND EVERY CG MEMBER OR EMPLOYEE, IF YOU PLAN ON
DRINKING, DO NOT DRIVE ANY VEHICLE WHETHER ITS A CAR, A BOAT, OR A
MOTORCYCLE. THE ONLY SAFE BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (BAC) WHILE
OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE IS ZERO. AS GUARDIANS, YOU SAVE LIVES.
PLEASE SAVE YOUR OWN AND PROTECT A SHIPMATE. DO NOT DRINK AND
DRIVE.
7. RADM MARK TEDESCO DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE,
SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.